Chapter 1176: Do I Have a Grudge Against You?

The auction continued.

Chang Shan Zhenren brought out one treasure after another, all of exceptional quality, with bidding calls rising incessantly, each wave higher than the last.

In the private room, Ye Chen still stood by the window, but his gaze was not fixed on the auction items on the stage. Instead, it was on the female scholar disguised as a man below.

That scholar was truly peculiar, an oddity even in this auction hall. Since the auction began, she had been holding an ancient book and flipping through it leisurely, as if she were not here to bid but simply to read. It wasn't just Ye Chen; even those sitting beside her looked at her with strange expressions.

He must have seen her before!

Ye Chen murmured to himself, yet he couldn't make out her true appearance.

Ah... ah...!

While Ye Chen murmured and the auction heated up, a woman's painful cries echoed from another direction—not from the Gui Huang Shenzi's private room, but from Hua Tiandu's.

Instantly, the lively auction was interrupted.

Everyone's eyes turned to that private room, and without even looking, they knew Hua Tiandu was inside, tormenting a female cultivator. They could guess it was likely because he had been cheated in the earlier bidding and was venting his anger on her.

At that moment, Hua Tiandu was indeed tormenting the female cultivator, like a madman wildly unleashing his rage.

Chang Shan Zhenren frowned, his face darkening. He had never expected Hua Tiandu to act so recklessly, and he said sternly, "As the divine son of Tianfu Shen Chao, aren't you afraid of disgracing the dynasty's reputation?"

"You're overstepping your bounds, elder."

Hua Tiandu snorted coldly.

"You—"

Chang Shan Zhenren was so angered by his words that his expression grew even darker.

"Focus on hosting your auction."

Hua Tiandu laughed menacingly, and as he spoke, he stuffed a handkerchief into the female cultivator's mouth beneath him, continuing like a savage beast to vent his bestial desires and fury.

"Hua Tiandu, what a fellow daoist!"

Gui Huang Shenzi's laughter echoed through the hall, his eyes flickering with lewd light.

"Scum."

From below, there were murmurs of curses, though no one dared to speak out openly.

"What a sin."

Ye Chen shook his head helplessly, feeling a bit guilty. If he hadn't provoked Hua Tiandu earlier, those female cultivators probably wouldn't have been dragged in to vent his anger. He felt somewhat responsible for this.

"He's always been like that. Even without you, the outcome would be the same."

Bi You said softly.

"In that case, let's give him something else to deal with."

Ye Chen smirked coldly.

"The auction continues."

Chang Shan Zhenren glanced at Hua Tiandu one last time before waving his hand to produce a golden divine sword. It was engraved with ancient dragon patterns, and faintly, one could hear the sound of dragon roars.

"What a treasure, absolutely a treasure."

As soon as the golden divine sword appeared, everyone's eyes below were drawn to it.

"A domineering artifact, its power must be extraordinary."

"I should bid on it."

"Dragon Pattern Divine Sword, forged from dragon pattern immortal gold, starting bid at fifty thousand."

Amid the discussions, Chang Shan Zhenren spoke up.

"This sword is quite fine; I'll take it."

No sooner had Chang Shan Zhenren finished speaking than Ye Chen called out.

"Hmm?"

Ye Chen's words drew surprised murmurs from the entire hall.

"Ye Chen."

In his private room, where he was still tormenting the female cultivator, Hua Tiandu immediately stood up, his eyes full of menace as he stared at the opposite private room. "If you want this Dragon Pattern Divine Sword, you'll have to pay the price."

"One hundred thousand."

Ye Chen had already made his bid.

"The Lingxiao Palace has bid one hundred thousand; is there anyone higher?"

"Two hundred thousand."

Before Chang Shan Zhenren could finish, Hua Tiandu interrupted.

"Hua brother, do you have something against me?"

Ye Chen spoke, smiling leisurely at the opposite private room. "I already let you have the Ziyan Tianlei earlier, and now you're still fighting me for this Dragon Pattern Sword?"

"Win it fair and square if you can."

Hua Tiandu laughed sinisterly.

"In that case, three hundred thousand."

Ye Chen chuckled lightly.

"Four hundred thousand."

"Five hundred thousand."

"These two are at it again."

Murmurs of resignation spread through the hall below.

"Go on, outbid him."

Many people rubbed their hands in excitement, eager to see Hua Tiandu humiliated, hoping Ye Chen would make him lose face once more.

"Six hundred thousand."

Hua Tiandu's voice boomed through the hall.

"Seven hundred thousand."

Ye Chen's voice grew a bit colder, but it wasn't real anger—it was feigned, all to set the hook properly. His acting was spot-on.

"Eight hundred thousand."

Hearing Ye Chen's colder tone, Hua Tiandu laughed heartily, clearly enjoying himself.

"Nine hundred thousand."

Ye Chen pretended to snort coldly.

"One million."

Hua Tiandu laughed even more wildly, and as he finished, he shot Ye Chen a ferocious, challenging glare.

"That sword is worth at most three hundred thousand, but it's up to one million now."

Murmurs of astonishment filled the hall below.

"From the sound of it, the man from Lingxiao Palace is angry."

"There's no way Hua Tiandu will let him take the Dragon Pattern Sword so easily."

"One million one hundred thousand."

Amid the discussions, Ye Chen's angry shout rang out from the Lingxiao Palace private room.

"One million two hundred thousand."

Hua Tiandu quickly followed.

"You're impressive; it's yours."

Ye Chen immediately backed out, and as he did, he winked at Bi You beside him.

"Nicely done."

Bi You smiled charmingly.

"He's giving up just like that?"

The spectators below were caught off guard for a moment.

"Haven't you figured it out? Lingxiao Palace is setting up Hua Tiandu."

"This acting is top-notch."

"Oh, so that's what it means!"

Many people suddenly realized, bursting into laughter, as if they could already picture Hua Tiandu's furious face, even with the private room's barriers.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it."

Hua Tiandu was indeed furious, exploding in rage. Only now did he realize he'd fallen into a trap from the start, foolishly thinking he was in control.

"Is there anyone bidding higher?"

Chang Shan Zhenren asked, his face dark, though his disappointment was directed at their own divine son, whose behavior and mindset were truly disgraceful.

"No higher bids; let's continue."

Many people chuckled.

"The auction continues."

Chang Shan Zhenren put away the Dragon Pattern Divine Sword and waved his hand to bring out another item: a precious seal engraved with Azure Luan patterns, from which faint phoenix cries could be heard.

"Azure Luan Ancient Seal, starting bid at fifty thousand. Bidding starts now."

"Sixty thousand; I'll take it."

As soon as Chang Shan Zhenren finished, Ye Chen spoke up again.

"It's over; no chance for us."

Those about to bid immediately held back.

"One hundred thousand."

Though no one below bid, someone from above did.

"I'll bid one hundred thousand."

The bidder was naturally Hua Tiandu, gritting his teeth, but this time he was much calmer, determined to trap Ye Chen and reminding himself to be extra cautious.

"Divine son, have I done something to offend you?"

Ye Chen laughed, looking at the opposite private room with interest.

"Bidding is about skill."

Hua Tiandu laughed menacingly.

"In that case, two hundred thousand."

Ye Chen smiled.

"Three hundred thousand."

"Four hundred thousand."

"Five—"

Ye Chen was about to raise the bid when Bi You pulled him back.

"Don't fall into his trap."

Bi You warned with a worried expression.

"Don't worry; I know what I'm doing."

Ye Chen smiled and immediately shouted, "Five hundred thousand."

"Six hundred thousand."

"Seven hundred thousand."

"Eight hundred thousand."

Ye Chen feigned a stern rebuke.

"Nine hundred thousand."

Hua Tiandu smiled faintly, thinking that if Ye Chen bid even a single yuan stone higher, he would back out on the spot.

"It's up to nine hundred thousand now."

Murmurs of amazement rose from below, with everyone eagerly watching the drama unfold. But after waiting a long time, there was no response from the Lingxiao Palace private room.

"Young friend, are you bidding higher?"

Chang Shan Zhenren looked toward the Lingxiao Palace private room.

"Not anymore."

Ye Chen sighed. "Your divine son is too wealthy. If he wants it that badly, let him have it."

"I just calculated with my fingers; Hua Tiandu's been tricked again."

As soon as Ye Chen spoke, more than one old fortune-teller below meaningfully pinched their fingers. "Tricking him like this brings me great satisfaction."

"Damn it."

In his private room, Hua Tiandu smashed the table with a palm, his face twisting into a demonic rage. He had thought he had the upper hand, but Ye Chen had turned the tables, leaving him to spend nine hundred thousand on something worth less than three hundred thousand.

"Congratulations, daoist friend, on getting another treasure."

From the opposite private room, Ye Chen's laughter echoed through the hall.